Movable pool floors at Aquatic Centre Saint-Denis (France)

Flexible, durable and ready for top-class sport and daily use

The Aquatic Centre in Saint-Denis stands as a leading sports complex for artistic swimming, diving and water polo, while also serving as a permanent facility for the local community. The assignment called for a building that supports international events and switches to daily use without complex interventions: swimming lessons, training, recreation and community activities.

Variopool: movable pool floors as the key to multifunctional use

Variopool realises movable pool floors in the Aquatic Centre that make the pools instantly adaptable to different target groups and programmes. Due to the variable water depth, the complex supports both fixed competition configurations for elite sports and safe, didactic settings for instruction and grassroots sports. This solution increases occupancy rates, improves daily scheduling and helps managers operate the accommodation more efficiently.

The movable floor with a flap moves between two external retaining walls when secured (locked) in the platform. The size of this floor is 25 x 9.5 metres, with a flap of 25 x 4 metres. This configuration creates a flexible and practical layout that makes the pool suitable for a wide and changing programme.

Strong incorporation and accessibility: connected to the Stade de France
Via a footbridge over the A1 motorway, the Aquatic Centre connects seamlessly to the Stade de France. The project represents a targeted investment in Seine-Saint-Denis, where the need for high-quality sports infrastructure is high. Two temporary 50-metre pools were installed and efficiently converted to a layout with around 2,500 seats, suitable for events as well as daily use.

Sustainable design: timber construction, solar cells and circular materials

The core of the building consists of a wooden main structure. This produces a slender roof shape with minimal building height-functional and architecturally distinctive. The roof is equipped with solar cells, forming one of the largest solar parks in France. Circular use of materials reinforces the sustainable ambition, including waste wood for furniture and recycled plastic for grandstand seats.

Multisport function and wide accessibility

Since July 2025, the Aquatic Centre has functioned as a multisport venue with facilities including gyms, tennis courts and team sports fields. With two pools of different sizes, movable pool floors and modern facilities, the complex supports a wide spectrum of activities-from swimming lessons and therapy to training and international competitions.

Design team and positioning

The design by VenhoevenCS and Ateliers 2/3/4/, developed in collaboration with the Grand Métropole de Paris and a team of experts, sets a new standard for sustainable and multifunctional sports facilities.

Also a pool that switches effortlessly between top sport and daily use?

Variopool provides customised solutions such as movable pool floors and smart configurations for efficient operation and maximum flexibility. Contact us for advice or a project exploration.